Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To reduce in grade, rank, or status.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To reduce to a lower grade or class: opposed to promote: as, to demote a boy for falling behind in his studies.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To reduce to a lower grade or rank, as in the military, one's employment, or in school; to assign to a lower position.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To lower the rank or status of something.
  • verb transitive To relegate.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb assign to a lower position; reduce in rank

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[de– + (pro)mote.]

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Examples

  • For example: you may not recognize the word demote, but if you break down the word you find "de" a prefix that means remove, take away or lower.

    LearnHub Activities 2008

  • But, in the meantime, as an editor for OEN I can say unequivocally that we do not "demote" articles.

    OpEdNews - Diary: People Who Hate OpEdNews 2008

  • But these shifts were enough for the MSM to "demote" him in status.

    OpEdNews - Diary: John Edwards to drop out of presidential race. 2008

  • And, I suppose if Rob wanted to he could offer us a "demote" button, but it simply does not exist here.

    OpEdNews - Diary: People Who Hate OpEdNews 2008

  • And the plan to "demote" universities to Polytechnic status - hardly going to be a vote winner for anyone whose kids are currently at one of those under threat.

    The Guardian World News 2010

  • Social Affairs Minister Piet Hein Donner's proposal to 'demote' older workers at the end of their careers and decrease their salaries to reflect their alleged lower productivity has inspired

    English 2009

  • If KC signed Ingle Martin, can't we "demote" a Colin Allred, Mike Otto to the practice squad and not actually have to cut anyone?

    MVN 2008

  • If KC signed Ingle Martin, can't we "demote" a Colin Allred, Mike Otto to the practice squad and not actually have to cut anyone?

    MVN 2008

  • "The tribunal should have done more, such as demote the officers, of instance.

    The Jakarta Post Breaking News admin 2010

  • The sports minister, Hugh Robertson, backed the FA's decision to demote Terry now the Chelsea player's trial for allegedly racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand has been put back until 9 July, eight days after the Euro 2012 final.

    Fabio Capello increasingly isolated in row with FA over John Terry 2012

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